Covid-19 Appeal for Persecuted Christians

As the Covid-19 pandemic spreads around the globe, some of the countries from which Church in Chains reports regularly have been very badly hit. In some countries, the pandemic has led to sudden huge needs for emergency aid as closure of shops and businesses and society lockdowns have left many people without means of support. This has been acutely felt by those who are daily wage labourers.

In some areas of Pakistan, Christian leaders have reported several incidents in which Christians have been denied food aid amid the Covid-19 crisis. One pastor in Lahore stated: “When Christians reached the distribution point and presented their national identity cards, they were asked by staffers to get out of the line claiming the foodstuff was only for Muslim citizens.”

Our Response

In late March, Church in Chains responded an appeal for help from Pakistan and sent a grant to its partner organisation CLAAS for use in providing basic foodstuffs (flour, rice, lentils etc.) and hygiene supplies (soap, face masks) to needy Christians with no other means of support.

Three further gifts were sent to our partner in Pakistan in April and May to provide further emergency aid to the many Christians discriminated against in the provision of state aid.

In mid-April, Church in Chains responded to an appeal from its partner organisation Stefanos Foundation for urgent assistance to distribute aid to victims of recent attacks by Fulani militants. The aid provided included rice, beans, vegetable oil, garri (flour grains which can be mixed with water), maggi (widely-used cube of pressed spices), salt, sugar, tomato paste and also some clothing and shoes.

A further grant of aid was sent to our partner in May to bring urgent relief to Christians in other regions who have been internally displaced by Fulani militant attacks.

Other countries

In India, the aid was channelled through our partner Persecution Relief to poor, marginalised Christian communities in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarkhand states. Those receiving aid were destitute because of the lockdown in India and had no access to government aid.

The aid to Eritrea was sent through our partner Release Eritrea to help persecuted Christians suffering hardship.

How You Can Help

Please give, as you are able, to help our brothers and sisters who are in urgent need of emergency aid at this crucial time. Your gift will be sent, without any deduction, to our partners and allocated to those who are in greatest need.

Two ways to give

By bank transfer using online banking. Our bank details are:

BIC IPBSIE2D

IBAN IE22 IPBS 9906 1020 1759 05.

Please mention Covid-19 as a reference on your gift.

By PayPal – click on button below to donate (Note: you don’t need a PayPal account to donate by credit card)

Please do not send a gift by post at this time. As Church in Chains is complying with the Public Health Measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Ireland, we cannot currently access our PO Box.